Ladoga Ridge Winery is a family-owned boutique winery located 1.6 miles from downtown Smithville. The winery is surrounded by a beautiful 4-acre vineyard and offers free wine tastings. We had a Social Living coupon for the tasting which included the wine, cheese and crackers and Ladoga Ridge Wine glasses.
              
This is Elmer, the Elm tree which is situated just outside the front of the Winery, Elmer is more than 100 years old. Named after a previous owner of the property, Elmer Smith, the tree has a circumference of 15 feet.
                   
This was our wine server. She served us 10 wines explaining each one. We bought The Chococherry Kiss, a black cherry chocolate, dessert wine to have with our cheese and crackers after we finished our glass of wine provided with the wine tasting.
       
With one of the wines we had a piece of dark chocolate in between sips to show how it would change the taste of the wine. We also had a tiny peanut butter cup and it made the wine taste like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.


This is the view by the fire pit and a chicken that was willing to eat crackers if you want to share.
           
There is outdoor furniture placed throughout the vineyard to create spaces to enjoy the wine, scenery and time with friends.

Here we are at the winery front door with Fred & Lupe. In September Ladoga Ridge does special wine slushies. On the day we visited they had strawberry rhubarb and blackberry. They were very good.